RoadVitals

1996 Ford F-350 Tires & wheels Problems

Owner-reported complaints naming the tire or wheel system, filed with NHTSA

Data refreshed

Tires & wheels reportsComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received.
29
Latest Oct 7, 2011
Share of all reportsThis category as a share of every owner report on file for this model year. One report can name more than one component, so the categories overlap.
22%
of 130 total
Crash or fire reportedReports in this category whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. The reporter's own answer on the NHTSA form, not a verified finding.
1
Injuries or deaths reportedTotals the submitters entered on their own reports in this category. Not verified by NHTSA and not a casualty statistic.
0

What this page shows

Reports naming tires, wheels, hubs, or the tire-pressure monitoring system. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 1996 Ford F-350 submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 29 reports on file name it.

Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.

Owner reports naming tire or wheel

The 25 most recent of 29, in the owner's own words

Tires & wheels
Filed Oct 7, 2011

CRACKING SIDEWALLS CAUSING BLOWOUT WHILE DRIVING BOTH DRIVERS SIDE AND PASS. SIDE. *TR

NHTSA ID
10429131
Incident
Oct 3, 2011
Mileage
10,000 mi
Tires & wheels
Filed Jul 20, 2004

BLOW OUT. *LA

NHTSA ID
10082307
Incident
Jul 18, 2004
Mileage
91,000 mi
Tires & wheels
Filed Jun 17, 2004

WHILE DRIVING 70 MPH REAR PASSENGER SIDE TIRE TREAD SEPARATED. AS A RESULT, CONSUMER PULLED OVER ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD, WHERE HE FOUND SEVERE DAMAGE TO THE BODY OF THE VEHICLE. *AK

NHTSA ID
10079422
Incident
May 17, 2004
Mileage
100,000 mi
Tires & wheels
Filed Oct 21, 2003

THE PASSENGER SIDE REAR TIRE EXPERIENCED TREAD SEPARATION WHILE DRIVING AT 60 MPH. AS A RESULT REAR FENDER AND EXHAUST WERE DAMAGED. THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE WAS UNDETERMINED. THE DEALERSHIP HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. *AK

NHTSA ID
10044392
Tires & wheels
Filed May 30, 2003

PROBLEMS WITH MICHELIN TIRES, SPILTS ON TIRES. *MR PH

NHTSA ID
10022269
EngineTires & wheels
Filed May 24, 2003
Fire reported

1996, F-350, CREW CAB, 4X4, WITH 35,000 ORIGINAL MILES WAS TOWING 5TH WHEEL TRAVEL TRAILER IN MOUNTAINOUS AREA. EXHAUST PIPES CAUSED THE SPARE TIRE TO CATCH ON FIRE. THE SPARE TIRE WAS NEW AND HAD NEVER BEEN REMOVED SINCE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED IN 1996 USED, WITH 3,000 MILES ON IT. THE SPARE TIRE WAS ABOUT 3-4 INCHES AWAY FROM THE EXHAUST PIPE HEAT SHIELD. ( NOT TOUCHING). REAR GAS TANK WAS NOT HARMED DUE TO QUICK ACTION ON FIRE EXTINGUISHING. DRIVER WAS UNAWARE OF FIRE UNTIL NOTIFIED BY PERSONS OUTSIDE THE VEHICLE. SPARE TIRE BURNED CLEAR TO THE CORE PRIOR TO BEING REMOVED AFTER FLAMES WERE EXTINGUISHED. *NLM

NHTSA ID
10019247
Incident
May 23, 2003
Mileage
35,846 mi
Tires & wheelsTransmission
Filed Jul 18, 2002

FRONT HUBS NOT LOCKING IN, CAUSING LOSS OF 4-WHEEL DRIVE. DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. *AK CONSUMER STATED THAT THE 4 WHEEL DRIVE STUCK. ALSO THE TRANSFER CASE AND TRANSMISSION WERE GOING IN BUT NO POWER IN FRONT WHEELS. THE DEALER SAID THIS WAS A FACTORY DEFAULT. *YH

NHTSA ID
8014285
Incident
May 25, 2002
Tires & wheels
Filed Jan 28, 2002

CONSUMER WAS TRAVELING ABOUT 55MPH ON HIGHWAY AND BOTH REAR TIRES EXPLODED. WAS ABLE TO CONTROL VEHICLE. TIRES WERE 16INCH GOODYEAR AQUA TREADS. DEALERSHIP WAS AWARE OF PROBLEM.*AK

NHTSA ID
8002968
Incident
Aug 1, 2001
Tires & wheels
Filed Jul 6, 2001

ALL FIVE FIRESTONE STEELTEX R4S TIRES ON 1996, FORD, F350 EXPERIENCED SIDEWALL CRACKING WITH 29842 MILES ON TIRES. THESE TIRES WERE NOT ORIGINAL EQUIPMENT ON THIS VEHICLE, AND HAVE BEEN REPLACED. *AK FIRESTONE DEALER STATED TIRES EXPERIENCED SIDEWALL SEPARATION, TIRE SIZE P235/85R16 R4S, LOAD RANGE E, DOT UNKNOWN. *SLC

NHTSA ID
892140
Incident
Jun 1, 2001
Tires & wheels
Filed Jun 19, 2001

I WAS DRIVING ON HWY 10 AT 63-65MPH WHEN THE TREAD SEPARATED, WRAPPED AROUND MY REAR AXEL, BENT BRAKE CABLE, TORE FENDER SKIRTS, BENT FENDER SUPPORTS, CHIPPED PAINT, BENT FENDER, TRIM PIECES. TIRE STEEL BELTS ONLY SURFACE TO DRIVE ON, MAKING TRUCK INOPERABLE. DID NOT TURN OVER, BUT HAD I BEEN ON MY USUAL ROUTE THROUGH MOUNTAIN CURVES, WOULD HAVE GONE OVER THE SIDE OF THE MOUNTAIN. CONCERN THAT 16 INCH TIRES ARE NOT BEING LOOKED AT. DO NOT FEEL SAFE. FIRESTONE BLAMING FORD EXPLORER. MY VEHICLE NOT A FORD EXPLORER. IT IS A TIRE DEFECT. WANT RECALL OF 16 INCH TIRES ALSO. FIRESTONE A HAZARD TO EVERY OWNER. I TELL EVERYONE WHO HAS FIRESTONE TIRES TO GET RID OF THEM. MANY CAN'T AFFORD TO PAY FOR IT. YOU MUST HAVE THESE TIRES REPLACED. *AK (DOT NUMBER: VNOR 1WW TIRESIZE: LT23585R16)

NHTSA ID
747041
Incident
Jul 27, 2000
Tires & wheels
Filed Nov 13, 2000

THE INSIDE REAR TIRE HAD A BUMP ON IT WHICH CAUSED VIBRATION IN THE DRIVETRAIN WHILE DRIVING (FIRESTONE STEELTEX P235/85R16 M/S). NLM

NHTSA ID
557291
Tires & wheels
Filed Oct 10, 2000

ORIGINAL FIRESTONE TIRES ON A FORD, F350, 1996, LT2158516, UNOPTWV206. ALL SIX TIRES ARE SHOWING EVIDENCE OF TREAD BEGINNING TO SEPARATE.*AK *SLC

NHTSA ID
872584
Incident
Sep 28, 2000
Tires & wheels
Filed Oct 7, 2000

TREAD STARTED TO SEPERATE FROM TIRE,CAME APART ON OUTSIDE WALL ABOUT 10 INCHES (TIRESIZE: P235/85R16)( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: P235/85R16 )

NHTSA ID
733645
Incident
Sep 15, 2000
Tires & wheels
Filed Oct 6, 2000

PE00040, BOUGHT USED A 1996 F350, TIRE SIZE LT235/85R16 STEEL TEX R4S. DRIVER'S REAR TIRE AND THE FRONT TIRE TREAD SEPARATED, AND HAD A BLOWOUT WHICH MAY HAVE CAUSED A CRASH. 3 TIRES HAD THESE PROBLEM. *AK

NHTSA ID
872463
Incident
Jul 1, 1998
Tires & wheels
Filed Oct 5, 2000

PE00040, ORGINIAL EQUIPMENT ON 1996, F350 WITH DUAL REAR TIRES, TIRE SIZE LT23585R16, DOT VDOR1WW445. ALL 6 TIRES HAVE CRACKS COMING FROM THE INSIDE OF TIRES WHICH MAY INDICATE THAT TIRES ARE ABOUT TO SEPARATE. FIRESTONE IS NOT WILLING TO ASSIST CONSUMER. .*AK CONSUMER WAS ALSO UNABLE TO MAINTAIN GOOD AIR PRESSURE AND COULD FIND NO REASON AS TO THE LOSS. *SLC

NHTSA ID
872350
Incident
Sep 15, 2000
Tires & wheels
Filed Oct 2, 2000

LEFT FRONT FIRESTONE TIRE MAKING NOISE AND IS NOT INCLUDED IN RECALL (FIRESTONE STEELTEX R4S L5215/85R16 - DOTVNOP). *ET

NHTSA ID
784914
Tires & wheels
Filed Sep 30, 2000

IT HAPPNED ON A DUAL WHEEL, SO DID NOT HAVE MUCH TROUBLE KEEPING IT UNDER CONTROL. *AK (TIRESIZE: 225/75/R16)( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: 225/75/R16 )

NHTSA ID
732933
Incident
Aug 21, 2000
Tires & wheels
Filed Sep 30, 2000

WHEN FRONT TIRE CAME APART , ALMOST WENT INTO A 15 FOOT DITCH .IT COULD HAVE VERY BAD!*AK (TIRESIZE: 225/75/R16)( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: 225/75/R16 )

NHTSA ID
732929
Incident
Aug 7, 2000
Tires & wheels
Filed Sep 20, 2000

I PURCHASED A SET OF BRIDGESTONE DUELER A/T 691 SIZE 33X12.50 16.5 "D" TIRES FOR MY FORD PICKUP. THEY WERE ABOUT HALF WORN WHEN WE WENT ON VACATION THIS SPRING. I CHECKED THE TIRE PRESSURE BEFORE LEAVING. WHILE DRIVING THE LEFT REAR TIRE LITERALLY BLEW APART. BY THE TIME I GOT TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD I WAS ON THE RIM AND HAD SEVERAL HUNDRED DOLLARS DAMAGE TO MY TRUCK. I HAD TO PURCHASE A USED TIRE FOR A SPARE TO GET BACK HOME. WITHIN A COUPLE WEEKS, ONE OF THE OTHER TIRES STARTED SEPARATING AND I GOT A LARGE BUBBLE IN THE TREAD. I STARTED TO THE TIRE DEALER AND YET ANOTHER TIRE STARTED SEPARATING AND ANOTHER LARGE BUBBLE. I HAD TO GO BACK HOME AT 10 MPH. I TOOK THE TIRES OFF AND TOOK THEM TO A FIRESTONE STORE IN ROSEVILLE, CA. I SPOKE TO ROYCE WISE (MANAGING PARTNER) AND HE TOLD ME THEY WOULD REPLACE THE TIRES GIVING ME AN ALLOWANCE FOR THE TREAD WEAR. I AGREED AND ALL SEEMED OK UNTIL MR. WISE FOUND THAT FIRESTONE NO LONGER MADE TIRES OF THAT SIZE. HE THEN TOLD ME THERE WAS NOTHING HE COULD OR WOULD DO ABOUT THE TIRES. I ASKED HIM WHO I COULD CONTACT AT FIRESTONE AND HE GAVE ME THE PHONE NUMBER OF THE DISTRICT OFFICE (916) 486-3852. WHEN I CALL THE NUMBER I GET A RECORDING TO LEAVE A MESSAGE WHICH I HAVE DONE ON FOUR DIFFERENT OCCASIONS NOW AND HAVE NOT RECEIVED A CALL BACK. IT IS OBVIOUS I AM NOT GETTING ANYWHERE WITH THIS COMPLAINT. I HAD TO PURCHASE A NEW WHEEL AND SET OF GOODYEAR TIRES FOR MY TRUCK. I HAVE KEPT THE REMAINING THREE TIRES FOR EVIDENCE. I HAVE SENT COMPLAINTS TO FIRESTONE OVER A MONTH AGO AND RECEIVED NO RESPONSE. IF YOU ARE UNABLE TO RECONCILE THIS PROBLEM, COULD YOU PLEASE PROVIDE ME WITH THE NAME AND ADDRESS OF A LOCAL FIRESTONE REPRESENTATIVE. I WOULD LIKE TO SETTLE THIS MATTER IN SMALL CLAIMS COURT IF POSSIBLE. *AK( DOT NUMBER: EJYCCFN435 TIRE SIZE: 33X12.5165 )

NHTSA ID
731999
Incident
Apr 14, 2000
Tires & wheels
Filed Sep 12, 2000

PE00020; TIRE TREAD SEPARATION: WHILE DRIVING ABOUT 65 MPH DRIVER HEARD A NOISE. AFTER PULLING ONTO THE SHOULDER, DRIVER NOTICED TIRE ON DRIVER'S FRONT WAS BALLOONED OUT IN THE CENTER. TIRE SIZE LT 21585R16, DOT # VD0P1WV405. ORIGINAL TIRE EQUIPMENT ON A 96, F350. TIRE MILEAGE ABOUT 48,000. THE TIRE WAS REPLACED BY A FIRESTONE DEALERSHIP FREE OF CHARGE. *AK THE RIGHT FRONT TIRES ARE BALLOONING OUT. *YH

NHTSA ID
870249
Incident
Sep 4, 2000
Tires & wheels
Filed Sep 12, 2000

THIS 16 INCH TIRE BLEW OUT WHILE IN AZ ON A TRIP. IT WAS ON A 1996 MOTORHOME WITH A FORD CHASSIS. THERE WAS 5/16 INCHES LEFT OF TIRE WEAR. THE TREAD PEELED OF JUST AS SHOWN ON TV. I HAVE THE TIRE. I HAVE WRITTEN TO FIRESTONE ONLY TO GET A CANNED REPLY. I KNOW THIS IS A 16 INCH TIRE AND THE RECALL IS FOR 15 INCH TIRES. BUT I FEEL THAT BECAUSE THE SAME IS HAPPENING UNDER THE SAME CONDITIONS AS THE 15 INCH, IT DESRERVES CONSIDERATION. THIS WAS A MOTORHOME AND NOT A SUV EITHER. THAT WOULD BE ADDITIONAL EVIDENCE THAT THE TIRE IS THE PROBLEM AND NOT THE CAR!*AK( DOT NUMBER: 25582URBD9 TIRE SIZE: LT225/7516 )

NHTSA ID
731211
Incident
Aug 15, 2000
Tires & wheels
Filed Sep 11, 2000

TIRE TREAD SEPARATED WITHOUT APPARENT CAUSE AND BALANCE OF TIRE BLEW, CAUSING ADJACENT TIRE TO BLOW OUT AS WELL. *AK( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: LT22575R16 )

NHTSA ID
730989
Incident
Sep 10, 2000
Tires & wheels
Filed Sep 6, 2000

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK( DOT NUMBER: VDDR RAA TIRE SIZE: 235-85R-16 )

NHTSA ID
730435
Incident
Sep 2, 2000
Tires & wheels
Filed Sep 5, 2000

PE00020; ORIGINAL EQUIPMENT ON 1996 FORD, E350 CHASSIS, DUTCHMEN CLASS C, TIRE SIZE LT22575R16, DOT VD1W1XB435. PASSENGER'S INSIDE TIRE, A FOOT LONG TREAD PEELED OFF WHICH ALMOST CAUSED A CRASH. *AK WHILE TRAVELING AT 50 MPH, THE RIGHT REAR TIRE TREAD SEPARTED AND THE TIRE BLEW OUT. AS THE RESULT, THE RIGHT MUD FLAP WAS TORN OFF. THE TIRE THAT BLEW WAS FIRESTONE STEEL TEX RADIAL. *YH

NHTSA ID
869539
Incident
Aug 26, 2000
Tires & wheels
Filed Aug 22, 2000

I HAVE BEEN UNABLE TO GET A PHONE CALL THRU TO FIRESTONE, THE EMAIL DOESN'T SEEM TO HAVE ANY INTELLIGENCE ON THE OTHER END. I AM HOPEFUL THAT SOONER OR LATER PREF SOONER, I WILL GET MY DAY IN THE SUN. 73, NMC( DOT NUMBER: VDOR???445 TIRE SIZE: LT235/85R1 )

NHTSA ID
728729
Incident
Aug 4, 2000

Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers.

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Elsewhere on this vehicle

Data sources

Data on this page last refreshed .